Red Dragon Emperor of Domination

Chapter Three: Haunted

"Everyone is your enemy, Issei! Don't trust a soul out there, and use force if necessary!" Amaterasu shouted at Issei as he made his way across a large castle encircled by a mote of black flames. This was combat training, as she had experienced the civil war that the Biblical faction had fought and wanted to make sure that "her little Sekiryuutei" was prepared for any trials that might come his way should fighting break out again.

A hail of arrows came around a corridor, being guided to their target by magic and coupled with enhanced piercing power.

"Mirror Aias!" Shouting out it's name, Issei's shield-spell had appeared and expanded in size, encompassing the totality of his back area. The arrows bounced harmlessly off of the scarlet petals, the petals breaking after a single moment of contact.

"Don't stop, your blind-side is always open!" Upon her declaration, several lesser replicas of Kusanagi appeared and lunged at Issei. A shadowy figure appeared a few meters in front of him, seemingly beckoning him to safety.

Issei's mind slowed the carnage down. His blindside was a troublesome place to guard, so this stranger's help would be appreciated. Channeling his latent energy into his feet, he made a mad dash for the perceived safehaven. He successfully dodged the swords, and they landed harmlessly on the ground. Unfortunately, upon arrival to the shadowy figure, a hand had penetrated his chest.

"Didn't Lady-Amaterasu tell you not to trust anyone, kid?" A beast with the visage of a hideous monster spoke from it's mouth. "Especially not an oni."

"Don't worry, I didn't, Oni." A voice from above came. It was Issei, completely unscathed. That moment that he had increased speed, he did so exponentially, going faster than sound to move silently and creating an afterimage in his trail. The mirage Issei disappeared, and the real one continued on through his trials. The oni was impressed.

"Not bad, kid. I see why Lady-Amaterasu places so much stock in you."

-end flashback-

That had been right when his training with Amaterasu started over a two decades ago. Currently, however, Issei was in a dream. He was facing the Red Sky Dragon, Ddraig, trying to avoid getting barbecued by the flames.

"Hot, hot!"

Issei shouted out, feeling his skin searing as his sweat boiled away. Ddraig's flames made even Amaterasu's (black) Flames feel like liquid nitrogen! It was like comparing ice cream to fire. Even so, Issei kept his eyes on Ddraig. The win condition for this bout was to take Ddraig off his feet; easier said than done...

However, Issei was used to fighting large enemies who were stronger than himself. Fighting against his mate's phantasmal familiars had gotten him used to such situations. Besides, Issei had an advantage... or two.

 One: he was inherently resistant to fire. Two: Ddraig was inherently weak to lightning. Issei would share that weakness, were it not for him being a descendant of Susanoo and therefore having a resistance to lightning. This meant that Issei needed to electrocute Ddraig.

'He won't let me use my powers, his flames and aura bullets will put me out of commission if I stop moving. The safest place to be when I shock him is on his back... I need to get close and mount him.' Issei thought as he rolled out of the way of another volley of aura bullets.

'I need to distract him... a spell that's subtle and quick to cast...'

[Have you formulated a strategy, partner? Too bad! I won't let you use it!]

Ddraig exclaimed as he leaped backwards while shooting aura bullets at Issei. When Ddraig landed, he ran to the side- circling Issei. Nevertheless, Issei used the brief moment of reprieve from the assault of flames to conjure a sword of Divine Energy. Using the sword, he narrowly deflected all of the aura bullets before another torrent of fire came his way.